The ISU decided to have only 4 JGP events with a Pairs competition because many of these events were underattended in the past, and most of the Pairs competing came from only a handful of federations.

2004-2005 JGP:
Of the 8 events, there were one with 6 competitors, three with 7, two with 8, and two with 9. The majority of the entries came from the US, Russia and Canada. Seven teams went to the JGPF, of which five were from the US and two were from Russia (one Canadian team withdrew and was replaced; one Russian team withdrew too late to be replaced).

2005-2006 JGP:
Of the 8 events there were two with only 4 competitors, two with 5, two with 6, one with 8 and one with 9. The first four events had the least number of competitors. Most of the competitors came from the US, Russia, and China. Of the 8 teams that went to the JGPF, six were from the US and two were from Russia.

One difference in this year's JGP is that all federations are allowed to send 3 teams to each of the four Pairs events. However, for the US, that is a decrease. Last season, the US filled 16 spots but have only 12 available spots this year.

Perhaps the ISU is looking for a JGPF with a more diversified representation, but given the number of teams each federation has available to send, it seems most of the JGPF spots will still go to the same Pairs powerhouses.

It seems a bit silly to cut back the pairs - countries struggle enough to get slite skaters in Pairs in the first place and forcing countries like US and Russia who are getting the pairs out there to cut back their schedule seems a bit short sighted.